TACD warns: The European Commission’s Digital Omnibus reform could weaken major EU digital protections. Civil society groups in the United States and in Europe call on the Commission to halt these changes.
Yesterday, the FTC announced it had reached a $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon over the company’s manipulative subscription tactics. The $2.5 billion penalty, however, falls far short of Amazon’s gains from its unfair Prime subscription practices.
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This marks a significant victory for transatlantic consumers in our long-standing effort to hold tech companies accountable.
@tacd-consumers.bsky.social comment below:
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#deceptivedesign #darkpatterns 5/
Now this judgment needs to be codified into law in the upcoming digital fairness act in the EU + rulemaking in the FTC. 4/
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⚠️ Every year consumers on both sides of the Atlantic fall pray to similar practices, losing money and giving away more personal data than they intend. 3/
👉 On 14.01.2021, consumer groups in Europe and the US filed coordinated complaints to the European Commission and the FTC against Amazon for making it significantly harder to cancel a subscription than to start one. 2/
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💥 Today, the FTC and Amazon announced a landmark settlement with a record $2.5 billion fine, incl $1.5 billion in refunds. This outcome would not have been possible without strong, cross-Atlantic collaboration. Congratulations to the FTC for dedicated work in this case!
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
Today’s historic enforcement against Amazon follows direct action led by TACD and its members, who launched coordinated actions on both sides of the Atlantic in 2021, which first brought Amazon’s use of manipulative ‘dark patterns’ to the attention of regulators.
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After Trump's letter, the transatlantic consumer movement @tacd-consumers.bsky.social has a message: we stand together against the coercion by the U.S. administration. Laws designed to protect people’s right cannot be a bargaining chip in the negotiation. Our statement: tacd.org/tacd-calls-o...
The ongoing transatlantic trade tensions between the EU and the U.S. continue to raise serious concerns for consumer and digital rights organisations. We call on the EU to resist U.S. trade deal coercion to weaken laws.
🇪🇺🇺🇸 Consumers on both sides of the Atlantic are at risk.
EU & US consumer groups unite through TACD to demand:
✳️ Safer online marketplaces
✳️ Platform responsibility
✳️ Strong enforcement
🚨 Children’s toys with choking hazards. Electronics that catch fire. Online marketplaces are not doing enough to keep unsafe products off their platforms. TACD calls for urgent EU–US action.
ANEC is deeply concerned about the increasing presence of unsafe products sold through online marketplaces, especially those imported from third countries that do not always comply with EU safety standards. Consumers can be exposed to toys with choking hazards, electrical goods with fire risks and dangerous chemical substances. ANEC joins TACD call to fill the serious enforcement gap where standards cannot protect consumers unless they are coupled with effective market surveillance, liability frameworks, and robust enforcement mechanisms.
@tacd-consumers.bsky.social, a coalition of leading consumer organisations from the EU (including @raisingstandardseu.bsky.social), US and UK, releases landmark report uncovering serious gaps in product safety enforcement on major online marketplaces.
📄 tinyurl.com/4d4mjrzc
⬇️ See ANEC’s statement
Our DTA Research Director Rishab Bailey recently addressed the EU Parliament as part of a @tacd-consumers.bsky.social delegation, encouraging lawmakers to stand firm against U.S. pressure and resist watering down key digital economy and consumer protection regulations.
Unsafe products, from toys to electronics, are flooding online marketplaces. TACD calls on EU & US policymakers to act: stronger rules, real accountability, and better enforcement.
Read our report ⤵️
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Benedicte Federspiel, a dedicated advocate for consumers and a valued member of the TACD community. Her legacy lives on through decades of impactful work.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Benedicte’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Thank you to MEPs Brando Benifei & @annacavazzini.bsky.social for hosting us in the @europarl.europa.eu for our discussion « Turning EU-U.S. tensions into action ». We exchanged with Commissioner Mc Grath, MEP @bernd-lange.bsky.social, and all our participants on potential avenues for cooperation.
🚨 TACD has joined 107 organisations in co-signing an open letter urging the European Commission to reject proposals to reopen the #GDPR. Weakening this cornerstone of EU digital policy threatens fundamental rights and accountability.
📄 Read more: edri.org/our-work/ope...
The EU Digital Markets & Services Acts aim to level the playing field for all businesses (big or small, local or global) and protect consumers’ rights. They're key to a fairer, more accountable digital world. Great explainer by @publiccitizen.bsky.social ⤵️ www.citizen.org/article/dont...
Our Statement opposing the U.S. administration’s use of coercive tariffs to pressure the EU over legitimate policies in @theprospect.bsky.social (cc. @ddayen.bsky.social).
Trade retaliation should not undermine laws designed to safeguard people’s rights. tacd.org/tacd-opposes...
The 90 days pause in the tariffs madness is good news but the US pressure against EU laws will remain very high. Consumer groups in the US & EU from @tacd-consumers.bsky.social have a message for the EU: Stay strong, don't cave in and enforce your laws to protect consumers 💪 tacd.org/wp-content/u...
Our members @beuc.eu and EDRi have teamed up to show the risks current digital trade agreements between the EU and partners may pose to consumer rights, workers’ protections, and broader fundamental rights. Check their video ⤵️
Estamos con @tacd-consumers.bsky.social en que las personas consumidoras no deberían pagar el precio de las guerras comerciales. Centrémonos en la cooperación y no en el uso de aranceles coercitivos.
Declaración completa 📃👇
tacd.org/tacd-opposes...
Reassuring statement from the EU. Consumer groups in the EU and the US from @tacd-consumers.bsky.social oppose these coercive tariffs. Instead of retaliation, the U.S. & the EU should work together to tackle common challenges like illegal & unsafe products. Read more tacd.org/tacd-opposes...
TACD strongly opposes the U.S. administration’s use of coercive tariffs to pressure the EU over legitimate digital, consumer protection, and sustainability policies. Trade retaliation should not undermine laws designed to safeguard people’s rights.
ICYMI: Trump's attempt to fire two commissioners of an independent agency, the FTC, is illegal and opens the door for corruption and corporate giveaways, per @bedoyaftc.bsky.social.
@iwillleavenow.bsky.social responds to Trump's latest power grab 👇
🚫 Expressing deep concern with regard to the illegal firing of the two Democratic FTC commissioners. Tech enforcement in Europe now even more important. US and European consumer groups united. See statement below. ⬇️
Digital rights expert @finnmyrstad.bsky.social on the illegal firing of FTC Commissioners @bedoyaftc.bsky.social and Slaughter.
Our full statement 👉 tacd.org/tacd-respond...
TACD is deeply concerned about the White House's illegal dismissal of two serving FTC Commissioners. This move radically alters the bipartisan structure of the independent consumer agency.
More from Digital Chairs @iwillleavenow.bsky.social and @finnmyrstad.bsky.social 👇
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